27 metro rail bearing pads marked 'critical', replacement by 30 Nov: Rabiul

Twenty-seven of the 730 defective bearing pads along the Uttara-Motijheel metro rail route have been classified as "critical" by an independent safety audit committee, with Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) setting 30 November as the deadline to replace them.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam disclosed the information in reply to a question from Cumilla-9 MP Md Abul Kalam during the question-answer session in Parliament today (9 September).

According to the minister, the safety audit found defects in 730 bearing pads along the route, although not all of them were considered serious.

Of the total, 147 bearing pads were classified as having minor defects, while defects in another 297 were primarily related to workmanship during installation. The remaining 27 were categorised as critical.

The audit committee also detected cracks of varying degrees in 46 piers along the metro rail route.

DMTCL formed a committee on 16 July to implement the safety audit committee's recommendations, and work on the immediate measures has already begun.

Steel brackets have been installed at 10 locations where there is a risk of bearing pad displacement, while settlement markers have been installed for the 27 critical bearing pads to monitor their settlement.

A programme has also been taken to replace all 27 critical bearing pads by 30 November.

Regarding the cracks in the 46 piers, the minister said the process of appointing Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) as a structural consultant is underway. "BUET will assess the risks posed by the cracks and recommend appropriate repair methods."

"Structural crack gauges are also being installed at 102 locations to measure and monitor cracks in the metro rail structures. The installation is scheduled to be completed by 31 October," he added.

Regarding passenger safety, Rabiul said waterproofing work at the substations of all metro rail stations is progressing rapidly. "A live test of a special emergency service line has also been successfully completed to ensure coordination between passenger rescue operations and control rooms in the event of a power outage."